Airbag Replacement

[johann]

Not sure this is the right place to ask this question, so forgive me if I'm wrong.

I have a '96 Ranger in very good condition only 137K. I hit a Deer and took out the grille and head lights and bent the bumper, I know I can fix the grill bumper and lights but the question is the airbag. I've been told this is a Dealer only repair, something I can't fix myself. I called the only local Dealer about replacing it and they never got back to me. I have no idea of the cost.

I have a few questions and am looking for some advice.

Is the truck too old for the Dealer to want to fix?

Is it worth the cost to repair it.

Can I legally drive the vehicle without an air bag?

Should I try to sell it for parts?

Any other ideas?

Thanks in advance.

 

[429CJ-3X2]

Judging by all the missing air bag modules in the salvage yard I frequent, a lot of people are replacing them themselves. The salvage yard here sells them for about $40.

This is a repair I'm going to attempt soon. The airbag in my '01 Sport Trac went off sometime before I bought it and wasn't replaced. I probably wouldn't be too concerned about replacing it, but my son T-boned a car that pulled out in front of him in his '97 Mountaineer last month. He was going 55 at the time, and the airbag most definitely saved him from serious injury. The Mountaineer was totaled, but he walked away without any injuries.

 

[johann]

Thanks for your reply!

I'm not sure it's something I trust myself to do. After talking to a local body fender shop they tell me they send them into the dealer to get replaced. He said you have to reset the sensors. Another thing I discovered is the vin # on the winshield dash doesn't show anymore it sez' AIRBAG. Interesting. I think I'll take this on as a project since I really like this truck, hope I can get the airbag replaced. Until then I need to find another truck.

 

[429CJ-3X2]

You can surely drive it legally without an airbag. Selling it as a driver might be a little trickier depending on where you live. When I bought my '02 Sport Trac in Iowa, the dealer had me sign a form that says the airbags don't work, even though I'm sure it does, just to cover their behinds. It protects them from a lawsuit from a buyer claiming they weren't told the airbags didn't work. I bought the '01 ST privately, so we didn't deal with the form.

Were airbags standard equipment, or optional, on a '96 Ranger?

 

[johann]

You can surely drive it legally without an airbag. Selling it as a driver might be a little trickier depending on where you live. When I bought my '02 Sport Trac in Iowa, the dealer had me sign a form that says the airbags don't work, even though I'm sure it does, just to cover their behinds. It protects them from a lawsuit from a buyer claiming they weren't told the airbags didn't work. I bought the '01 ST privately, so we didn't deal with the form.

Were airbags standard equipment, or optional, on a '96 Ranger?

Not sure if they were standard or an option in '96. I think they became required in '98.

I found a real nice 2000 Ranger XLT in town yesterday and got a good deal on it.

I'm still up in the air (so to speak) whether I should fix my '96 or sell it as is. I live pretty far out in the country, allot of wood cutters look for cheap good running pickups. I'm sure one of them would buy it and not worry about the airbag. I think for about $300 in parts someone could replace the grill and headlights and just drive it. I wouldn't get much for it as is, but I'm not sure it's worth my time to fix, too many other projects. Maybe I'll put a For Sale Sign on it and see what happens.